What is Hypnotherapy and
How Can It Help You?
Hypnotherapy makes it easier to change habits because it establishes new neural pathways that reroute old patterns and ease the flow of new responses.
If you would like to let go of unhealthy habits, feel more in control of your emotions, and live a happier, healthier life, hypnotherapy can rewire your brain to bring about those changes.
Some people have misconceptions about what hypnosis is and how it works, so I’ve made some short videos and put together the answers to some frequently asked questions about hypnosis, hypnotherapy and how it can help you.
What is hypnosis?
You’re not as unfamiliar with hypnosis as you may think. Hypnosis is a completely natural state of relaxation that we drift in and out of in our everyday lives. You may zone out as your attention becomes hyper focused on one particular thing, but you’re still conscious and aware, for example when you drive home and don’t remember every turn you took on the way. This is useful in hypnosis for therapy because it quietens the critical mind, allowing us to access the subconscious and the emotions that drive our behaviour.
How does hypnotherapy work?
What happens during hypnotherapy?
In hypnosis, we are open to suggestions. Positive suggestions can be used to reframe things you previously found difficult and make new neural connections that serve you better. We can interrupt anxiety, self-doubt, cravings and other emotions, thoughts and behaviours we want to change. Then we can introduce new patterns like feelings of confidence, or the ability to relax and drift off to sleep in response to certain cues. Watch my video on How does hypnotherapy work?
Will hypnosis cause me to lose control?
While we are more open to suggestions when in hypnosis, these suggestions are only accepted when they align with our beliefs, values and desires. You remain in control of the process and the changes it creates. You can’t be hypnotised to do, say or believe something you don’t want to.
Watch my video on Will I lose control? and How your mind protects you.
What does hypnosis therapy work for?
Hypnosis is an amazingly varied and powerful tool for change. We can use it to change our mental and emotional state in many ways, such as reducing anxiety, overcoming unhelpful habits like emotional eating, or achieving goals like building confidence to give presentations at work. There is a growing body of evidence for the effectiveness of hypnosis for physical health including managing chronic pain, IBS and menopausal hot flushes. Watch my video on What does hypnosis work for?
Can hypnosis work for me?
As hypnosis is a completely natural state that we all experience, and you are in control the whole time, it works for the majority of people who turn to hypnotherapy for help. The main determiner of success is that you want to experience the changes we are working on in hypnotherapy. If you don’t really want to change, your brain will reject the positive suggestions. We always have a consultation beforehand to check there aren’t any medical issues that may need to be addressed first, so we ensure that hypnotherapy is a suitable approach, and I’m the right person to help you before going ahead. Watch my video on Can anyone be hypnotised?
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How can hypnotherapy help me sleep?
Does it feel like no matter how hard you try, you can’t get to sleep or stay asleep? Do you find yourself waking up in the night and not able to get back to sleep? It sounds like you might be stuck in a negative spiral of sleep anxiety. The more you worry about not sleeping, the more it becomes a struggle to fall asleep or settle again after nighttime wakings. Hypnotherapy can be used to reduce sleep anxiety and break the negative cycle of worry that keeps you from getting a good night’s rest, promoting deeper, more restful sleep.
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How can hypnotherapy help with different issues?
How does hypnotherapy work for
Anxiety and Stress?
The first thing we do is calm your nervous system so it’s not constantly on high alert and setting off alarm bells. Once we help you feel more relaxed, we look at the things that trigger anxiety and stress so we can reframe your emotions and responses to them. We also build self-help strategies for you to use outside sessions, which help bring you back to a place of calm whenever you need it. Watch my video on How does hypnotherapy help with anxiety?
How does hypnotherapy work for
Trauma and PTSD?
We can carry the burden of traumatic events from our past for years. While talking about them can help us understand them, sometimes their impact lingers. With hypnosis, we don’t need to talk in detail about traumatic events to recover. We can break free from the emotional turmoil by creating new neural pathways that reframe the event, process it safely and enable us to move forward in a positive way. Watch my video How does hypnotherapy help heal trauma?
Can hypnotherapy help manage symptoms of menopause?
Menopause is driven by hormonal changes but there are still things we can do in hypnotherapy to manage the symptoms. We can work on difficulties sleeping, anxiety, and changing emotional states often experienced during menopause and introduce self-help mechanisms for feeling calm and in control. There’s also evidence that hypnosis techniques help reduce the impact of physical symptoms, particularly hot flushes. Hypnotherapy can be a great addition to use alongside other treatments, or a natural alternative on its own to managing menopause.
Can hypnosis work on physical pain?
As well as helping to manage emotional issues, hypnotherapy can be used to manage physical pain. Once we have identified any medical causes of the pain, we can determine that you are ready for a hypnosis approach. This involves reducing stress levels, releasing tension and adjusting perceptions of the pain. Relaxing the mind and body lowers stress hormones and increases pain-relieving endorphins and chemicals, helping your body to naturally manage pain more effectively. Watch my video How does hypnotherapy help manage pain?
How does hypnotherapy work for reducing alcohol intake?
Many people feel out of control when it comes to their alcohol consumption, but they don’t know how to break the habit and socialise or face challenges without needing to rely on a drink. In hypnosis, we work with your subconscious mind and the emotions driving this behaviour and create new neural pathways so you can approach alcohol differently, whether you want to give it up completely or just drink less. Watch my video on How does hypnotherapy help with alcohol?
How does hypnosis help with weight loss?
Diets don’t work for most people in the long term. Restricting food (or anything else for that matter) makes it the focus of our thoughts. Through hypnosis, we work on the emotions and habits driving unhealthy behaviour around food, which disrupt our appetite and contribute to unhealthy eating patterns. This may include addressing sleep, how you eat your meals, stress management and cravings. We can disconnect negative emotions and unhelpful behaviours, introducing a more balanced attitude to food, which helps you reduce portion sizes easily and find healthier foods more appealing.
Watch my videos on using hypnotherapy to manage weight loss by improving sleep, reducing stress and addressing cravings.
How can hypnosis work to stop smoking or vaping?
Hypnotherapy helps people stop smoking or vaping by reducing the sensations of cravings and breaking old habits by replacing them with new neural pathways. It’s like rewiring your brain and body to not need a cigarette or vape anymore. However, it will only work if you really want to stop. In hypnosis, your mind will not accept suggestions for changes you don’t want to make. In your consultation, I will discuss your motivation for change to determine if you are ready to take this step. Watch my video How can hypnosis help me to stop smoking?
How does hypnotherapy work?
Can hypnotherapy work on Zoom?
While I offer in-person sessions in the Newmarket and Cambridge areas, we don’t need to be in the same room for hypnosis to work. You need to be able to hear me clearly and I need to be able to see you so I can measure your relaxation levels and pace my suggestions for when you are in the right state. So, if you’d prefer to have hypnotherapy over Zoom, it will be just as effective. This enables me to help clients across the world, as well as those locally who just prefer to enjoy their sessions from the comfort of their own home. Watch my video How does hypnosis work on Zoom?
How does hypnosis therapy work in groups?
Hypnotherapy works in groups when people share a common goal. For example, I work with organisations that want to help their team manage workplace stress. As managing stress is the common goal, I can help people relax into hypnosis and use positive suggestions that help them all break out of the cycle of stress. Watch my video How does hypnosis work in groups?
How much does hypnotherapy cost?
I offer online or face-to-face sessions. A standard session is 60 minutes. If I think you may need longer, I will discuss this during your consultation. This allows flexibility to give the time you need to ensure you have the appropriate treatment and care each session. Packages of multiple sessions offer the best value and provide continuity for your progress.
If you have any other questions about using hypnosis as a tool for change, contact me and I’ll be happy to help you decide if hypnotherapy is the right route for you.
When you’re ready to change, I’m here to help you achieve your goals through hypnotherapy and The BLAST technique.
Book a free consultation to discuss a suitable package for your needs.